Suggestions for future shows

[embreeb]

I like the show so far, and I absolutely love Robert's reviews of HDTVs and other HT stuff. The one beef I have is that he doesn't seem to promote the less expensive HDTVs (sub $2000 market). I (like most of America) don't have $3000 - $5000 to spend on an HDTV, nor would my wife let me even if we did. I would like them to review some mid-range HDTVs; I know there are some good sets out there. Thanks for all the great HT advice.

[ugadata]

Suggestion - Building an HTPC (yeah, I know you already did that on Systm)

along that same line a comparison of the different HTPC software packages availible. Media Center, Myth TV, GBPVR, SageTV, Beyond TV, etc (there's more I just can't think of them now)

[bobv13]

Just a few episode suggestions:

An overview of the new dedicated devices that are available, Networked Media Tank, Xtreemer, AMD Maui.... (what ever is new at that time) and of course build one from a specialized HTPC MoBo

The preferred method of connecting all the many sources in order to get the best audio and video.

Universal remotes, what can they do to simplify my home theater for my wife and how do I set one up

Keep a "recession buster" segment for each show highlighting low cost home theater components.

Setting up a HTPC to include PC gaming on the HDTV. Keyboard/mouse may be best for FPS but to play a platformer I prefer a game controller.

Build a home network with the HDTV as its it's central Video port. Include one by one every imaginable perifial (one per show) like a home security system, NAS, home environmental control, I'll bet you can star gaze for you couch if you wanted.

Thanks

[mikec]

High end Blu-ray players, is the cost worth it? Denon has a machine that lists for almost $2,000. What about a $600 player vs a $300 machine?

Reviews of surround sound receivers and speakers. Don't forget the less expensive systems as well.

Here is where the show merges with Tekzilla and things get complicated keeping the two show concepts separated.

[mic]

HDMI lip sync issues and how HDMI v1.3b auto sync doesn't always work correctly.

[tactix]

keeping on the cheap bluray players line maybe cover this player.
i know you wont be able to do a full test as getting it to the us and then the voltage difference will be a problem but its altleast gotta be worth a heads up even if its just a mention for the uk peeps

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...ory_oid=-33944



ok its sub £100 and not sub $100 but please can we have some uk love lol

[a_llama]

i'd like to see them talk about room acoustics. proper use of dampening materials, bass traps, etc.

discussion on projectors (cheap, mid-line, and fancy) and using a screen or special wall paint.

[tokenuser]

Originally Posted by a_llama

discussion on projectors (cheap, mid-line, and fancy) and using a screen or special wall paint.

I saw the smoke leak out of a projector that had been running 8 hours a day for 3 days. The bang was like a firecracker going off ... followed by the smoke leaking out. This was a mid-priced data projector (inFocus).

If the discussion is going to go to projectors, then room size gets important too. I will be setting up our system in a new (to us) house next week ... and suspect that a 60" TV might not be large enough for the viewing space.

A discussion on optimal size screens for room dimensions would be good. You might think that you can never have too big ... but that just isn't true.

[ghelyar]

South Park Season 12 Blu-ray. It's in 1080i and the interlacing looks terrible (tried in several players). Probably because they are solid colours and the animation is not smooth. It might be worth warning people.

I have quite a nice overclocked, water cooled computer. While most Blu-ray takes about 25-30% CPU to play back, this took 100% which caused it to jerk when played in a PC regardless of playback software or whether it was ripped to a hard drive or played straight off the BD. I don't know if this was just because it was in 1080i or what but needing LN2 to watch a Blu-ray can't be right!


It would be nice if this was confirmed and warned against on the show or just mentioned.

[timseley]

I'd like to second the motion for a round up or comparison of front end software for htpcs. MCE, beyond tv, sage, gbpvr, etc...